Loose-leaf binder



C. A. FINLEY LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed July 28, 1928 Nov. 20, 1928.

INVENTOR CHARLES A. FINLEY J g/122s 472027295 fill Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,692,641 PATENT OFFICE- CHARLES A. FINLEY,'OF RUTHERFORD, NEW-JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO Boomnvx & rRAsR COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW YORK. I I

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed July 28, 1928. Serial No. 296,016.

This invention relates to locking mechanism for telescoping post binders of the class in which an expanding split sleeve is used to lock and release the parts.

The main object of this invention is to pro vide a locking means which is simple to manufacture and to operate and which at the same time is sturdy and long lived.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a loose leaf book embodying my invention, part of the leaves in the book and part of a leaf-supporting member being cut away;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross scection through the locking post;

Figure et is a cross section on the line a-4c of Eigure 3, showing a detail.

The device shown in the drawings comprises a top binding bar and a bottom bindin bar 11 which carry leaf supporting members 1213 and locking member 14-15. The leaf supporting members may be of any suitable teiescoping type. They are shown in the drawings as posts 12 borne by the top bar 10 and tubes 13 borne by the bottom bar 11 and spaced to receive the posts 12 telescopically.

The locking member comprises tube 14.- and a metal sleeve 15 longitudinally slotted at 16, which is received by the tube 14. The sheet receiving and the locking members may be secured to the binding bars in any appropriate manner as by welding. The number of lockmembers and of sheet receiving members used is optional.

If desired a top cover 17 may be hinged to the top bar and a bottom cover 18 may be secured to the bottom bar. Hinging the bottom cover is optional.

The locking post or sleeve 15 is slotted at 16, as shown in Figures 3 and l, up to the point 19, and is bored throughout at 20 to receive the pin 21 and the ball 22 between the free end of the pin and the free end of the sleeve.

For the greater part of its length the diameter of the bore 20 is greater than the diameter of the pin and slightly greater than the diameter of the ball 22, but near the free end or bottom of the sleeve its walls are thick ened, so that the bore tapers inwardly becoming gradually smaller than the diameter of the ball. Removal downwardly of the ball or the pin from the locking sleeve is thus prevented. The pin is long enough to extend to about the point where the bore begins to taper. lVhen the pin is raised so that the center of the ball may ride in the larger part of the bore, being moved thereto by the resilience of the split legs of sleeve the latter will be freed from frictional pressure against the outer.

tube and can be moved up or down in that outer tube easily. But when the pin is depressed the ball is forced into thetaper, pressing the split legs of the sleeve 15 outwardly and causing them to lock against the inner walls of the locking tube.

The upper or secured end of the pin 21 is screw-threaded at 23 and the upper or secured end of the sleeve 15 is screw-threaded within the bore to cooperate with the threading at 23. The pin is provided with a head 24 overlying the bore 20. At the lower end the pin may be slightly enlarged at 25 to provide a shoulder to abut against the retaining screw 26, thus preventing removal in an upward direction of the pin or the ball from the sleeve.

The screw head 24 may conveniently be made with groove 27 the size to fit a dime, so that a dime or other handy object may be used in looking the device. This does away with the necessity of providing a separate key, with its liability to become lost, and at the same time permits a construction with smooth lines, which would be impossible with a permanently attached key.

The invention provides a look easy too operate and one of extremely simpleconstruction and few parts. The look is unusually durable because friction is reduced to a minimum. The pin does not touch the sleeve except at the screw threads. The ball turns in the bore very little, if at all, its action being a slight downward and outward pressure. Consequently the. danger of the locking sleeves becoming scored and inoperative is reduced to a minimum. And the ball is always self adjusting.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder a locking member comprising a tube and acooperating slotted sleeve, the split walls of the sleeve being formed with a tapering bore. at its free end in combination with a ball of smaller diameter than the bore of the greater part of the sleeve, but of greater diameter than the bore at the free end of the sleeve and a screw pin adapted to bear against the ball.

2. In a loose leaf binder a locking member comprising a tube and a longitudinally end, the diameter of the ball being slightly less than the diameter of the uniform part of the bore of the sleeve and considerably greater than the bore at the free end of the sleeve, and a screw pin within the sleeve ex- 10 tending to about the point Where the diameter of the bore of the sleeve'begins to decrease, adapted to bear upon the ball when depressed.

i In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification.

CHARLES A. FINLEY. 

